New Medical Gas Laws To Better Protect Patients

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward MP has today said that local tradespeople across our region will now require a special licence to install medical gas following legislation passed by the New South Wales Government.

Mr Ward said that the Gas Legislation Amendment (Medical Gas Systems) Bill has created robust new regulations that increase protections for local patients that are administered medical gas during medical procedures.

“These new laws will ensure that the tragic circumstances where in 2016 the incorrect administration of nitrous oxide instead of oxygen at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital led to the tragic loss of a life and permanent disability of a newborn may hopefully never been repeated,” he said.

“From today, any person who is looking to install or test medical gas in a medical facility in NSW including the Illawarra and South Coast must have specialist qualifications and the appropriate level of skills and experience to do the work.

“These are straightforward and common-sense reforms that are first and foremost about the safety of the people of NSW,” Mr Ward said.

The NSW Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation Kevin Anderson MP said that the legislation has been developed in consultation with key stakeholders, including NSW Health, the building and health sectors, training providers, medical gas suppliers and medical service providers.

“We have left no stone unturned to ensure this legislation is as comprehensive, practical and effective as possible,” Mr Anderson said.

“We are also committed to punishing anyone who thinks they can operate outside of these new rules to the fullest extent of the law.

“If people or businesses are found to have breached the standards we have put in place they will face significant fines and potentially jail time,” Minister Anderson concluded.